Modern Art Syllabus 4g5o2u

Art History 3740*16-Modern Art Professor Andrea M. Zaremba [email protected] cell-(973) 698-3541 AOL IM: AZBagoo, Google Chat, see above

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Summer Session 1, Tuesday and Thursdays, 5:45-8:55pm, May 21-June 28, 2012 Vaughn Eames 112, Office hours to follow class time or appointment

Syllabus Modern Art is a course covering all aspects of art-painting, sculpture, photography, and architecture from Western Europe and in the US during the late 19th century and concluding in the mid-20th century.

Texts and readings Modern Art-Sam Hunter is the primary text to be used. As I know the texts for this class are expensive, I will put two on reserve in the Kean Library for your use. I also suggest borrowing a copy from your local library if you can. I recommend www.half.com, www.chegg.com, or www.amazon.com to purchase textbooks, or rent them-they are cheaper. Each week I have included readings for the next class and suggested texts on the scheduled topics. Students are encouraged to bring in any articles, readings, texts, etc. that are relevant to the topics.

Course Description and Goals This is a survey of avant-garde modern art, primarily the art of Western Europe and the United States, from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. We will see how the aesthetic of newness, originality, anti-academicism, and radical formal invention characteristic of avant-garde modernism was rooted in the deep-seated societal changes and values that defined modernity: the rise to power of the middle classes, secularism, positivism, faith in “progress,” individualism, and capitalism, which released the forces of modernization – industrialization, urbanization, colonialism – on the world. After defining “Modern” art and “Modernism,” the course begins with the emergence of the avant-garde in the nineteenth century with Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Symbolism. Most of our time is spent on the astonishing decade between 1907 and 1914 just prior to the First World War when Cubism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Constructivism, Futurism, and Dada fundamentally reinvented the vocabulary of Western

art. We then consider major works and concepts of art created between the World Wars, including the Bauhaus, DeStijl, Mexican Muralism, Social Realism, and Surrealism. In addition to paintings, we will also cover sculpture, mass produced textiles, and the start of photography as an art form from the first half of the 20th century. The course concludes with American Abstract Expressionism, the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, foundations of 20th century architecture, and European Art Existentialist Figuration of the post-World War II years.

Course Objectives I propose the following objectives, but I urge you to formulate your own objectives as well. My goal is to offer you the opportunity to:  learn about major modern artists, artworks, and concepts and the social, political, and intellectual contexts that shaped them  achieve a more direct and focused appreciation for modern painting, photography, design, architecture, and sculpture through the research paper assignment  advance your visual literacy and vocabulary  learn how to discern relevant (and irrelevant) episodes in artist biographies  gain insight into artists’ intentions for their artwork from reading their own writings  master the meaning of critical , beginning with “modern,” “modernism,” “modernity,” “modernist,” “avant-garde,” and “academic”  become aware of why and how modern art and modernism were so radically different from what came before and why key modernist values have fallen into disrepute  come to an understanding of why there are so few women and nonEuropean artists in the canon of modern art history  be able to see art and life, including your own, from a historical perspective  improve skills in writing, research, critical thinking, collaborative learning and communication

Attendance, Participation, and Student Conduct The successful completion of a course of study requires regular class attendance. Attendance means being present for the entire class period. Class attendance is important; however, it is recognized that absences may occur for legitimate reasons. As this is a shortened course, one excused absence will be allowed during the semester (but two absences will put you behind). Additional absences will lower your final semester grade average by five points for each absence. For example, if your grade average is 82 and you have 2 absences (1 absence beyond the allowable number), your average drops from 82 to 77 or from a "B" to a "C" grade.

Excessive absences are understood to represent disinterest in the course. Students who miss class are responsible for finding out about the material covered in lectures, homework assignments, and any announcements or examinations. A faculty member is not responsible for repeating information missed during a student’s absence. Students will understand that excessive absences will adversely affect your final grade. Good participation is how much you help yourself and others learn: a positive, questioning, engaged attitude toward the class. This is evident in attendance, being on time, attentiveness, and note taking. Class sessions will be interactive with a combination of lectures, Q and A, and discussion. Each class will start off with a discussion of the readings and students will be asked to participate by answering questions. Feel free to bring any topics/articles/readings that are relevant to course matter. Active, consistent, and positive participation is a large part of this class and it will be factored into your grade. This is a lecture course. Information presented in lecture contains the central concepts of the course and will be on quizzes and the final exam. Therefore, taking good notes is crucial for success in this class. And in my course-a LOT of notes will equal successful grades earned. I will show you the best way to take notes for this class. Sitting listening will not allow you to retain the information. If you have questions about the style of teaching or need help, do not hesitate to ask. You will be expected to follow all the guidelines for University Conduct. For more information, please use: http://www.kean.edu/KU/Code-ofConduct

Electronic Device Policy Laptops are not allowed. All cell phones should be set to silent, not vibrate, during class time. Your cell phone should be away, and not in your hand, on your desk, or in your lap. Texting during class is distracting and disrespectful to me and the rest of class-texting at anytime is prohibited-failure to follow this will result in points from your grade. Electronic devices are not allowed during quizzes or in class exams. Failure to comply with this policy will result in a failing grade on that exam or quiz.

Museum Visits There will be two trips offered during the course of the semester to museums in NYC. (These will be in place of the missed week in late May). The anticipated visits will be to the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Both trips will be on weekends and you will need to arrange for your own transportation to and from each venue. We can

discuss carpool options as well as other dates if the suggested ones do not work. For either trip you are welcome to bring friends, significant others, children, and family . I am open to visiting both museums on one day. There will be a lecture during the trip and students will receive questions for discussion at the start of each visit. Plan for about 2 hours at each museum. You are required to attend at least one of the museum visits with the class. There will be a take home writing assignment at the end of the session. You cannot complete the final exam take home portion without a visit to either museum. The anticipated dates of the class trips are: Sat/Sun

June 16/17

MOMA

Sat/Sun

June 23/24

Guggenheim

I understand people have weekend responsibilities and may not be able to make it-please talk to me about this so we can make arrangements.

Study For every class period, you should plan to spend at least one to two hours reading/studying the course material outside of class. In order to gain the most from the lectures, you should come to class having read your texts, and you should be familiar with the names of the objects and sites discussed in your text. I will give you a list of the monuments and vocabulary that are particularly appropriate for each lecture. Lectures will include artworks that are not illustrated in your text. It is unnecessary to bring your textbook to class as you will have the names of the objects and monuments provided on the study sheets. It is more important to look at the image on the screen and listen to the lecture or participate in the discussion than it is to hunt for an illustration which may, or may not be, in your text. You may find it helpful to sketch quickly the objects that are shown in lecture. You may wish to leave sufficient room in your notes so that you can add information or correct spelling later. Note cards are useful.

Exams, Assignments, Class Cancellation, Information Distribution, and Grade Distribution An exam missed as the result of illness, emergency, or injury may be made up at the discretion of the instructor who may require a doctor’s written explanation of your health issue. You should call the Art Dept office, (908) 737-4400, before the class period if you will be unable to take an exam. It is your responsibility to request a make-up exam if you

have a legitimate excuse. The call to the Department is in addition to a call (not a text or Facebook message) to me.

Class Cancellation In the event of inclement weather or emergencies, I will determine a new makeup class date for any missed class periods.

Information Distribution The bulk of the information needed for quizzes/final exam will come from the images and information covered in class. You will receive two documents for each class: information about the images (word document) and the images themselves (PowerPoint). You are expected to bring to each class the information sheet. These will be distributed through either email (from my Gmail to your email) or through Facebook/Scribd . (More info to follow). I prefer to everything to Scribd as you have access to it prior to class and don’t have to wait for emails. If neither option works for you, please let me know. I will not be bringing copies of images or the information sheets to classthis is your responsibility. It is much easier to take notes with the information sheet in front of you during class.

Components of your grade will be determined by: Reading Summaries Every few weeks (see schedule), you will be asked to turn in a summary of reading assignments from the week(s) prior (2-3 lessons). It should cover key points of what you read including important works of art, cultural and historical events. No more than 2-4 pages typed total. Include your name at the top of each page. There will be 4 of these in total. Bullet points on a time period/artist/country are acceptable. An example will be given for you to follow. Your options for a grade on each summary can be: check plus, (A), check (B), and check minus (C). Quizzes We will have 2 quizzes during the course of the session. The quizzes will cover images, dates, people, and ideas. A review will take place the class session prior to each quiz. Final Exam A Final Exam will take place during the last class session. It will be a cumulative combination of images, , discussion, people, and dates from the entire semester. You will be given a take home portion the week prior to complete and hand in at the last class with your final. Out of Class Assignment: Part of the take home portion of the final will be based upon works seen on museum trips.

For image identifications, you need to know the following information about each work:   

the name of the object the date of the work the period style of the work the original geographic location of the work

The image comparison will require you to (1) identify the two works shown in the comparison as you would for a image identification and (2) answer in essay form the particular question or questions asked about the two works. The short answer component may be matching or fill in the blank to test , definitions, examples of works of art, or important patrons or artists. The essay component will allow you to choose one or two essays from a selection of essay questions. You will discuss the question with reference to specific works of art

Grade Calculation: Class participation, attendance, and museum trip Reading summaries (4 total, 5% each) Image term quizzes (2 total, 15% each) Cumulative Final exam with take home paper

10% 20% 30% 40%

Grade range: A, 94-100; A-, 90-93; B+, 87-89; B, 84-86; B-, 80-83; C, 70-79; D, 60-69; F, 59 and below.

Extra credit opportunities: Become my friend on Facebook and share with others in the class interesting articles, topics, and images relevant to class content. Extra credit will be given at each quiz and on the final exam. You are also able to submit an extra credit project for the last class. (More info to follow)

Final Thoughts: I am more than willing to assist you outside the class with any questions or extra help. I encourage you to email me with any questions about class. As we are a class of many interests, please share with the class and feel free to add suggestive topics that you would like to know more about. Please do not hesitate to speak with me about your learning experience and how we can work together to ensure your success.